Antibacterial Properties of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud) Wats Essential Oils in Single form and Combination of Honey Against Drug Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Antibacterial potential of four lemongrass essential oils (EOs) and their major oil constituent, citral in single form and in combination of honey were evaluated against multi drug resistant (MDR) bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial potentials determined using agar well diffusion method has revealed that Krishna EOs exhibited most potent bactericidal effects than other Eos against all MDR bacteria used. The diameter of zone of inhibition of Krishna EOs ranged from 44-50 mm/50 µL of EOs. However, EOs of Pragati and Suvarna were selectively effective against S. aureus while that of Nima against A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. Citral expressed better antibacterial potential against all the MDR bacteria with zone of inhibition 38-45 mm/50 µl. The combination of all four different EOs with honey showed pronounced antibacterial activity exclusively against S. aureus. The combination of Suvarna EOs and honey showed 22 % increase in antibacterial activity against A. baumannii than the EOs alone. The combination of citral and honey showed significantly lower antibacterial activity as compared to citral alone against all MDR bacteria used. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of EOs determined were 4.5 µg/ml. Thus, the study revealed enhanced antibacterial potential of lemongrass EO when they are used with honey against drug resistant S. aureus.